YouTube Music and YouTube Premium: what you need to know about the new service

Regional singers Nassif Zeytoun and Rahma Riad were on hand to perform as the streaming giant debuts its anticipated music services

Nassif Zeytoun performs at YouTube Music launch in Dubai on September 10, 2019. Courtesy YouTube
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Two of the region’s young stars were on hand to help launch YouTube’s latest offering across the Arab world.

In a glittering ceremony at the new Bluewaters district in Dubai, the online streaming giant rolled out two of its premiere music services, YouTube Music and YouTube Premium.

Performing as part of the launch were Syrian crooner Nassif Zeytoun and Iraqi star Rahma Riad. Both did intimate sets in front of the regional press in a makeshift stage backed by a large LED screen.

New music premiered on YouTube

Zeytoun took the opportunity to premiere his latest song Faregouni.

Out on YouTube today, the mid-tempo track finds Zeytoun singing in the Iraqi dialect for the song.

No doubt, he is hoping the song finds similar success to Palestinian singer, and chart rival, Mohammed Assaf's Iraqi folk tune Makanak Khali, which has had more than113 million views in 11 months.

Also joining Zeytoun and Riad was the Egyptian singer Abu, who played a selection of his tracks.

What is YouTube Music and YouTube Premium?

YouTube Music acts as an online hub for people to discover new music in addition to accessing playlists.

While YouTube Premium operates on a subscription model which allows advertising free viewing, the ability to hear the audio when exiting the app, addition to being able to listen to music offline.

YouTube Music and YouTube Premium have launched in the Mena region. Courtesy YouTube
YouTube Music and YouTube Premium have launched in the Mena region. Courtesy YouTube

How much does it cost?

After its Mena launch, both services are available for subscription in 70 countries.

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YouTube Music and YouTube Premium cost Dh19.99 and Dh23.99, respectively. But to celebrate the launch, YouTube is offering the services for a free introductory period of one month across the region.

The exception is Saudi Arabia, which gets a three-month free pass.

For more information, visit music.youtube.com